Saliva-ejector.



L: R. BARGHAUSEN L G, L. GGNSTANTINI.

SALIVA EJEGTOR.

APPLLGATION FILED man, 1912.

Lpg A Patented 13610.25, 1913.

UNITED sTATns PATEN LAURENCE IB.. BARGHAUSEN AND CESARE L. CONSTANTINI,0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SALIVA-EJ'ECTOR.

Specification of etters Patent.

Patented ree. as, reis.

To all whom lt may concern:

Be it known that we. LAURENCE R. BARG- HanssN and CESARE L.CoNs'rANTrNr, citizens of the United States, residing at IVashington, inthe District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Saliva-Ejectors; and we do hereby declare the followinto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to cert-ain novel and useful improvements insaliva ejectors.

In carrying out our invention it is our purpose to provide a simple andeicient form of saliva ejector designed'to be inserted in the mouth ofthe patient in such manner as to drain off or remove the saliva and atthe same time enable the dentist to use both hands while working on theteeth.y

A further object of our invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be used in the mouth of the patient without causingdiscomfort or injuring the tissues of the mouth and gums. v

f With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view,our invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a. perspective view of thesaliva ejector embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation. Fig. 3 is an end yview looking from the rear toward the frontof the device. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the salivaapertures of the ejector.

In the present instance, we so construct our device that it embodies atubular stem or shank portion designed to beattached at its lower end toa tube of rubber or the like, which in turn is connected with the usualwater suction pump so as to remove the accumulated saliva and water fromthe mouth of the patient through the ejector. The upper end of thisshank is curved or bent and carries a tubular horizontally extendingU-shaped member adapted to lie within the mouth of the patient beneaththe tongue and of sufficient width to embrace the latter, this U-shapedmember, when in use, occupying a position beneath the tongue and betweenthe latter and the alveolar processes. The

shank or stem joins such member the forwardl ends of the plates are Hushwith or vslightly below the upper plane of the member, as is clearlyshown in the drawings.

.The branches of the U-shaped member are rovided wit-h apertures oropenings formed 1n the upper surfaces of such branches adjacent the rearclosed free ends of the latter. By such an arrangement the accumulationf of the saliva and water passes along the grooves or channels formed bythe outer surface' of the. plate and the branches of the U-shaped memberand such accumulation is then. drawn through the apertures out throughthe stem of the ejector. Furthermore, it will bel noted that the softtissues of the tongue and mouth will not prevent the working oftheejector. That is, these soft tissues will not be drawninto and stop upthe apertures so as to prevent the proper working of the instrument-forthe reasonl that the plates fixed on the branches of the U-shaped memberprevent the tissues being drawn into the openings and at the same timethey hold the tongue out of the wayso it will not interfere withthedentists work.

Referring now to the accompanying.

drawings in detail, vthe numeral l designates a tubular shank or stemwhich extends vertically when the device is in o erative position, thisstem being formed ci) any suitable material and is adapted to haveattached at its lower end 2 a rubber tube `or pipe, which it is notdeemed necessary to show, as it is of an ordinary construction. Theupper end portionfof the stem or shank is curved rearwardly at 3 and'isapproximately semi-circular in form so that when the device is in usethe upper curved end of the 4shank eX- tends over the lower lip andfront teethof the patient. The end of this curved shank merges into andcommunicates with the horizontally disposed rearwardly extending.

ico

erably closed as at 5. This tl-shaped member is designed to lic beneaththe tongue and is sufficiently wide to embrace the latter. The topport-ion of each branch or arm 6 is perforated as at 7 to form an inletfor the saliva and water into the branch or arm,

this perforation or opening being preferably located adjacent the closedfree end of the arm. To the inner side of each arm is tixedly attached,such as by brazing or the like, a plate 8 which is preferably formed ofmetal. Each of these plates is flared upwardly and outwardly, as shownat 9 and the top edge of each plate is cut or inclined forwardlyT anddownwardly until the front or meeting ends of the plates liesubstantially flush with or below the central portion or" the til-shapedmember. By this con struction of the plates, a rest or support for thetongue is formed, the tongue lying on and between the plates, while atthe same time curved grooves or channels 10 are forn'ed by the outerlower portion of each plate and the adjacent upper and inner portion ofeach branch or arm ot the U-shaped member. Along these channels thedropping saliva and water will flow to the pertorations through whichsaid saliva and water may be drained by suction through the stem andrubber tube to the point of discharge.

We are aware of the fact that it has been proposed to construct salivaejectors 'of this type, as is exemplitied in the patents to J. E.Jordan, 730,128, dated June 2, 190B and 951,130, dated March 8, 1910.But so 'far as we are aware, we are the first to prow-,de a salireejector in which the horiaontally disposed U-shaped members lie entirelybeneath the tongue and inside the teeth with the tongue embraced by andresting upon Leashes the plates, the latter being disposed and co1related relative to the U-shaped member within the' mouth in such mannerthat channels are formed between the lower outer portions of the platesand the adjacent surfaces of the branches of the lll-shaped member sothat the accumulated water and saliva will How along said channels tothe openings in the upper rear portions of the branches through whichopenings said water and saliva may be drained through the ejector to thepoint of dischargelt is, of course, to be understood that our` Vejectormay be 1r ade of any suitable material and that modications and changesmay be made in the details of construction without depart-ing from thespirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claim.

`What we claim is:

A saliva ejector comprising a tubular shank terminating at its upper endin a rearwardly curved portion, a horizontally disposed lll-shapedtubular member communicating with the curved end portion of the shanliand of sutiicient Width to embrace the tongue, the branches of saidU-shaped member extending rearwardly, the ends of said branches beingclosed, said branches having openings in the upper rear portionsthereof, and an upwardly and outwardly flared plate txedly attached toeach branch and forming channels in conjunction with the adjacentportions ot the branches, which channels lead to the openings in thebranches.

in testimony whereof, we a'iX our signatures in the presence of twoWitnesses.

LAURENCE R. BARGHUSEN. CESARE L. CONSTANTNI. 7Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. COOPER, CARL J. Mass.

